Thank you so much for reminding me of the fashion spot! I was obsessed with it years ago, and am happy to see it's still going. I've also become bored with Instagram takes on fashion (other than a handful of accounts) and I think I will migrate over there.
I've all but ignored runway shows for many of the same reasons as you. I watch out for a few favorites like Schiaparelli, CDG et al, and Carolina Herrera. But beyond those, I've sort of checked out. I think diving back into fashion history may be where I reignite my interest. Oddly enough, as I've become less critical/intentional with learning about fashion (aka just consuming pretty images) the more I've been compulsively shopping. Hopefully taking your lead and diving back into TFS will help me right that ship a bit.
The Fashion Spot is fun! A lot of people are quite snarky, but I still appreciate their critical eye.
I feel checked out, too. I look forward to Dries, Yohji, CDG, Lemaire and a few others every season, but it's hard to get excited about the fashion weeks as a whole. There's just so much meaningless product out there.
I love going back to old fashion at times. There was so much creativity and experimentation in the old collections! The only thing that is very, very troubling is how white and thin all the catwalks were in the past. Every now and then I feel that we haven't made much progress with these things, but if you look at the catwalks from, say, 2008... yikes. It's hard to understand how bad it really was so recently.
What you said about becoming less intentional about learning about fashion and shopping more compulsively hits home! Maybe it’s time for me to change that.
Hard agree on the collections -- I don’t really follow fashion weeks anymore but I was curious about Gucci and it basically represented everything I find depressing about the corporatisation of fashion. The space to dream is getting smaller and smaller...
That said, that link to the work of Patrick Ommeslaeghe was amazing, thanks for sharing -- that was my fave period of work at Jil Sander and I had no idea of his role in that!
I’m feeling all shopped out as well and wondering how long this will last; currently I’m inspired by the warming days and impending summer and rediscovering all my summer clothes again, and I hope this feeling of not needing to shop lasts...
Yes, yes, re: the new Gucci. :-( It was so depressing, and only reminded me how I felt when Hedi Slimane took over YSL & Celine. Alessandro Michele's aesthetic wasn't always my cup of tea, but at least that guy was full of dreams!
There must be so many creative geniuses who work in the shadows of creative directors... Patrick van Ommeslaeghe's Instagram account is super inspiring (although for obvious reasons I haven't kept up with it lately). I highly recommend following him!
I feel that the approaching autumn season will help me to not shop. I have so many nice fall and winter clothes! Here's to us not going off the rails in the months to come!
As always, so much food for thought! I loved Prada. Prada, Raf, like Phoebe for me represent a sweet spot of cerebral and wearable. Drawn to that like a moth banging on a reading lamp. I am wondering about newness -- if there is such a thing within the garments. More and more I think it's mostly in the styling. Waking things up. On the shopping note -- I've dealt with some high-emotion moments and not shopped. I find myself leaving a wake of abandoned shopping carts. Thinking: I don't want to have to find a hanger and put this away. And also: I know why I'm really here... Anyway, grateful for you and these entries!
I totally get that Prada calls your name! There were some really lovely pieces in the collection, and I thought that it was much better than the few seasons before. I think, for me, the current Prada is just too sterile, if that makes sense. I find that it's missing the rebellious heart it used to have. What I've grown to expect from Prada over the years is a feeling of dreaming (sometimes a happy dream, sometimes a nightmare), and I don't get any of that right now. I see a line of products the way I haven't before, and it makes me a little sad. But you raise a good question: what is newness? Is it that thing that we know when we see it? I will have to think about that one!
As for shopping... yeah, you and me both, Rachel. You and me both! <3
Ooh. Must go check out those dresses in the old Jil Sander show. Well I thought the Prada show was a huge improvement over those horrible logos on everything of seasons past! But interesting to know Raf was recycling.
Creativity seems mysterious to me. I have always thought of Miuccia Prada as creative. I am not an expert but over the years, especially before the rise of social, she always seemed to march to her own beat. Did it run dry? Exhaust itself from the grind of keeping up with the digital rhythms?
Will check it out. So glad you posted about this! I enjoyed Rachel T’s wash. Post article about this and wondered what you thought :-) and then like magic your post appeared!
I haven't signed up to The Washington Post so I can't access her article, but now I am tempted! Rachel Tashjian, Robin Givhan and Cathy Horyn seem to be the only interesting fashion writers around these days...
+100! Love all three. Have not subscribed yet either. I am still under my monthly quota of free articles. She may be the only reason I bite the bullet!
I agree that the Prada show was a massive improvement. I never understood why they had to put that triangle logo everywhere...
You know, I find myself wondering what happened to creativity at Prada, too. Prada used to be so exciting and they really pushed the envelope every season. The clothes used to be absolutely incredible. I was watching some old shows the other day, like fall 2013, and spring 2015, and wow... just wow. The clothes are breathtaking. It's hard to believe it's the same house now. Even before Raf came along, things weren't quite what they used to be, but Miuccia is in her 70s, maybe that's a factor. Miu Miu seems a lot more intriguing right now than Prada.
Oh how I wish I could visit your shop! Have you considered showcasing some of the pieces on here?
I actually thought about it yesterday! Maybe I should write a separate post about some of the coolest pieces..?
YESSSSSS. I’m sure you will find an engaged audience here and I’d be happy to share it in my newsletter as well!
Yay! :-) I appreciate your support so much, Irene! <3
Always!
Thank you so much for reminding me of the fashion spot! I was obsessed with it years ago, and am happy to see it's still going. I've also become bored with Instagram takes on fashion (other than a handful of accounts) and I think I will migrate over there.
I've all but ignored runway shows for many of the same reasons as you. I watch out for a few favorites like Schiaparelli, CDG et al, and Carolina Herrera. But beyond those, I've sort of checked out. I think diving back into fashion history may be where I reignite my interest. Oddly enough, as I've become less critical/intentional with learning about fashion (aka just consuming pretty images) the more I've been compulsively shopping. Hopefully taking your lead and diving back into TFS will help me right that ship a bit.
The Fashion Spot is fun! A lot of people are quite snarky, but I still appreciate their critical eye.
I feel checked out, too. I look forward to Dries, Yohji, CDG, Lemaire and a few others every season, but it's hard to get excited about the fashion weeks as a whole. There's just so much meaningless product out there.
I love going back to old fashion at times. There was so much creativity and experimentation in the old collections! The only thing that is very, very troubling is how white and thin all the catwalks were in the past. Every now and then I feel that we haven't made much progress with these things, but if you look at the catwalks from, say, 2008... yikes. It's hard to understand how bad it really was so recently.
What you said about becoming less intentional about learning about fashion and shopping more compulsively hits home! Maybe it’s time for me to change that.
I can relate to this, too!
Hard agree on the collections -- I don’t really follow fashion weeks anymore but I was curious about Gucci and it basically represented everything I find depressing about the corporatisation of fashion. The space to dream is getting smaller and smaller...
That said, that link to the work of Patrick Ommeslaeghe was amazing, thanks for sharing -- that was my fave period of work at Jil Sander and I had no idea of his role in that!
I’m feeling all shopped out as well and wondering how long this will last; currently I’m inspired by the warming days and impending summer and rediscovering all my summer clothes again, and I hope this feeling of not needing to shop lasts...
Yes, yes, re: the new Gucci. :-( It was so depressing, and only reminded me how I felt when Hedi Slimane took over YSL & Celine. Alessandro Michele's aesthetic wasn't always my cup of tea, but at least that guy was full of dreams!
There must be so many creative geniuses who work in the shadows of creative directors... Patrick van Ommeslaeghe's Instagram account is super inspiring (although for obvious reasons I haven't kept up with it lately). I highly recommend following him!
I feel that the approaching autumn season will help me to not shop. I have so many nice fall and winter clothes! Here's to us not going off the rails in the months to come!
Congrats on the successful thrifting venture! I will check out the Fashion Spot forums.
The forums are fun! I hope you enjoy it!
As always, so much food for thought! I loved Prada. Prada, Raf, like Phoebe for me represent a sweet spot of cerebral and wearable. Drawn to that like a moth banging on a reading lamp. I am wondering about newness -- if there is such a thing within the garments. More and more I think it's mostly in the styling. Waking things up. On the shopping note -- I've dealt with some high-emotion moments and not shopped. I find myself leaving a wake of abandoned shopping carts. Thinking: I don't want to have to find a hanger and put this away. And also: I know why I'm really here... Anyway, grateful for you and these entries!
I totally get that Prada calls your name! There were some really lovely pieces in the collection, and I thought that it was much better than the few seasons before. I think, for me, the current Prada is just too sterile, if that makes sense. I find that it's missing the rebellious heart it used to have. What I've grown to expect from Prada over the years is a feeling of dreaming (sometimes a happy dream, sometimes a nightmare), and I don't get any of that right now. I see a line of products the way I haven't before, and it makes me a little sad. But you raise a good question: what is newness? Is it that thing that we know when we see it? I will have to think about that one!
As for shopping... yeah, you and me both, Rachel. You and me both! <3
XOXO sighhhhhh
Ooh. Must go check out those dresses in the old Jil Sander show. Well I thought the Prada show was a huge improvement over those horrible logos on everything of seasons past! But interesting to know Raf was recycling.
Creativity seems mysterious to me. I have always thought of Miuccia Prada as creative. I am not an expert but over the years, especially before the rise of social, she always seemed to march to her own beat. Did it run dry? Exhaust itself from the grind of keeping up with the digital rhythms?
I went down the rabbit hole and found 'Prada: What went wrong' -thread on The Fashion Spot from 2016. It's very long but super interesting! https://forums.thefashionspot.com/threads/prada-what-went-wrong.371549/
Will check it out. So glad you posted about this! I enjoyed Rachel T’s wash. Post article about this and wondered what you thought :-) and then like magic your post appeared!
I haven't signed up to The Washington Post so I can't access her article, but now I am tempted! Rachel Tashjian, Robin Givhan and Cathy Horyn seem to be the only interesting fashion writers around these days...
+100! Love all three. Have not subscribed yet either. I am still under my monthly quota of free articles. She may be the only reason I bite the bullet!
I agree that the Prada show was a massive improvement. I never understood why they had to put that triangle logo everywhere...
You know, I find myself wondering what happened to creativity at Prada, too. Prada used to be so exciting and they really pushed the envelope every season. The clothes used to be absolutely incredible. I was watching some old shows the other day, like fall 2013, and spring 2015, and wow... just wow. The clothes are breathtaking. It's hard to believe it's the same house now. Even before Raf came along, things weren't quite what they used to be, but Miuccia is in her 70s, maybe that's a factor. Miu Miu seems a lot more intriguing right now than Prada.